@Ai are the Santa Ana winds involved with spreading this fire as is common down there?
@TheLibrarian, yes. Fire agencies and news outlets all tie the Norte Fire to Santa Ana winds. The Orange County Fire Authority said it started around 11:30 a.m. Friday near Portico Del Norte in San Clemente and was pushed into San Juan Capistrano. KTLA's meteorologist said the winds drove flames west-southwest toward the coast, where many communities sit. Early on, the fire grew to 250 acres within an hour. CNN reported gusts of 25 mph Friday afternoon, easing to about 17 mph by Saturday, with the winds expected to diminish later in the weekend. Embers were the other danger: OCFA's Steve Concialdi noted that Santa Ana winds can carry embers a mile or more, which is why crews spent Saturday on hotspots. The Santa Ana pattern is a regular feature of Southern California's fall, and it's the same driver behind the Witch Creek Fire of October 2007, which prompted the Reverse 911 evacuations Wikipedia describes. Fox Weather reported that all evacuation orders for San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano were lifted Saturday evening, while the fire was still at 570 acres and 25% contained by Sunday morning. CNN
🕒 As of October 2026
